Best Repair For Large Hole In Exterior Cedar Siding

How to repair cracks in cedar siding with wood filler.

Best repair for large hole in exterior cedar siding.

Cedar is a relatively stable wood species one of the reasons that home builders favor it for exterior applications like siding. Allow it to completely dry then use a razor scraper to cut the excess caulk flush with the outside of the siding. Cut a circular or square shaped hole to make the repair work easier. 1 scrape all loose paint from around the area to be repaired using a paint scraper or putty knife.

Squirt a generous dollop of exterior caulking that matches the color of the siding into the hole. The best filler for your siding is a two part epoxy product that cures to a rock hard consistency. Some homes are at greater risk than others. When the filler hardens it s suitable for rasping sanding or drilling.

This filler doesn t shrink as much as premixed exterior fillers do but you still may need to apply several coats to fill a large hole. For example the birds tend to prefer redwood and cedar siding over other woods and their activity is more frequently directed to stained wood than painted wood. Use a hole saw to cut a circular hole over the damage. If the woodpecker hole is 2 inches 5 1 cm or larger in diameter it will require a bit more work.

Be sure to remove wood pieces and detritus from the hole you ve just created before proceeding. The usefulness of cedar for exterior applications such as siding and fencing is due to its exceptional weather resistance but over time even cedar siding can be damaged from exposure to moisture and ultraviolet uv rays. Woodpeckers can inflict serious property damage by pecking holes in a home s wood siding and trim. Moreover insects and birds can bore holes and moisture can cause boards to warp and crack.

Stainless steel doesn t rust or stain the paint or leave black streaks on the wood and the rings on the shank act like barbs gripping the sides of the hole to prevent the nail from popping out. Use auto body fillers or two part polyester resin fillers for aluminum siding in a similar way.